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Jubilation as police kill most-wanted Imo robber

There was jubilation at the Imo State Police Command headquarters in Owerri when the remains of the state ’ s ‘ most-wanted’ armed robber , Ihechi Nwankwo , were brought from Umuahia , the Abia State capital.

The spokesman for the Imo State Police Command , Andrew Enwerem , told
Southern City News that the 27 -year-old armed robber, who hailed from Amaumara in the Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the state , had been on the wanted list of the command for a long time.

According to Enwerem , Nwankwo had been involved in a series of criminal operations , including robbing a bank customer of N8 m at Access Bank at Ahiara Junction on August 8 .
The slain suspect was also said to have robbed one Jovita Enwerem of N650, 000 at gunpoint at Ahiara Junction on June 21 .

A police source, who did not want to be named , told our correspondent that Nwankwo met his waterloo after he masterminded a robbery attack on a Chinese expatriate in Owerri in May .

The expatriate was said to have been dispossessed of his N 10 m , while his police guard was killed in the criminal operation .
Enwerem said, “ On September 28 , the state police command control room was alerted to a robbery attack along Wetheral Road , Owerri .

“ A customer of the Wetheral Road branch of Zenith Bank had gone to the bank to withdraw N 50 m . On their way , along Wetheral Road , they were confronted by a daredevil armed robbery gang operating with a grey colour Toyota Corolla with number plate ABJ 951AA that blocked the convoy and immediately opened fire on the police escorts . ”

The police spokesman stated that the robbers engaged the cops in a gun duel but they were overpowered by the police.

He said three policemen, however, sustained gunshot injuries and were already being treated in the hospital.

Enwerem said, “ The criminals escaped from the robbery scene but their vehicle was riddled with bullets. We , however, contacted police in the neighbouring states to be on the lookout .

“ Subsequently , the criminals were intercepted in Umuahia, Abia State , where they engaged the operatives in a gun duel . One of the gang members was gunned down while the others escaped with bullet injuries and the ash coloured Toyota Corolla car was also recovered . ”

Enwerem said investigation by the command ’ s Special Anti -Robbery Squad operatives revealed that the elder brother of the slain robber , one Chibuike Nwankwo , 42 , and Chukwudi Obinwanne, a native of Ugiri in Isiala Mbano LGA of the state , were being held at SARS cell for bank robbery cases .
The two suspects in the police custody, however , denied the allegation when our correspondent sought to know their level of involvement in the crimes .